Oz Fest

Oz Fest 17 BNE 2020 was sent to go, but the Covid-19 pandemic put an end to that. So let’s try again.At the date of this post, Australia is closed to most international visitors, with no published date as to when the border will fully open. NZ citizens and residents can enter NSW, SA, VIC & NT direct from New Zealand (the AU-NZ one way bubble). Currently a 14 day hotel quarantine, at own expense, is required for people entering Australia, except from NZ who can enter quarantine free. Some other AU travel bubbles with low risk countries may open up in the following months.
AU Government--- > COVID-19 and the border

The Australian international border will be tightly controlled while Covid-19 is a risk. There is a possibility and/or probability that Australia will not be open to people from all or some countries in May 2021. And that Queensland may not be open to some or all interstate visitors. Some of the closed AU state borders are slowly opening and state quarantine restrictions easing, but not for all people. Hopefully this will improve over the coming months. The QLD state election (31 Oct 2020) and the WA state election (March 2021) has/will have an effect on state border openings.

No one knows what the Covid-19 situation will be in May 2021. Oz Fest 17 BNE 2021 is probably going to be an event only for Australian and New Zealand residents. Or even not happen due to AU/QLD government restrictions. Anyone making bookings would be best to have 100% refundable or extremely minimal cash penalty for cancellation.

13 Nov 2020 (gov.au) ---> National Cabinet Media Statement
07 Oct 2020 (news.com.au) ---> Grim forecast about when you can travel overseas
Please keep the thread on topic:- Only Oz Fest 17 BNE 2021.
Moderators will be asked to remove any and all discussion and/or comments on Australia’s & other countries Covid-19 policies and practises. Please keep it factual. Plenty of other threads & sub-forums for those Coviid-19 opinions and questions.
Main thread for AU Covid-19 discussion and information:-
----> AU response to Covid-19 & the border [Soft closing of the Australian Border, 15 MarAfter discussions at the Oz Fest 16 SYD 2019 main dinner Brisbane, Queensland was chosen for Oz Fest 17. Oz Fest 03 (2006) was held in Brisbane, after the first 2 Oz Fest’s were held in Sydney. We repeat the tradition. 28 people attended Oz Fest 03, but we expect more this time. The location of Brisbane will allow easy international & Australian domestic access for many people.

The May USA Memorial Day weekend seems very popular with USA based Flyer-talkers, and that is the weekend that was most favoured by far. Again chosen that weekend - as we have for all other 16 Oz Fests. Around half the attendees are USA based at each Oz Fest.

That public holiday in the USA is Monday May 30, 2021 Remember if you leave Australia on afternoon of Monday May 30, you arrive back in the USA also early morning on Monday May 30.

A lot of time, no matter where you live in the USA, to get back home, unpack, have an early night, and get organised for a day at work next day etc.

There have been 16 successful Oz Fests so far - in Sydney, (2004, 2005 & 2019) Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart Tasmania, Cairns, Adelaide, Darwin 2011, Canberra, Perth, Alice Springs-Ayers Rock/Uluru in 2014, New Zealand 2015, the Gold Coast QLD 2016, Newcastle 2017 & Noosa QLD 2018.

The weather for the past 16 Oz Fests has been in general, superb and sunny. Despite June 1st, being our official Winter start date. Even in Tasmania our most southern city, we were truly blessed with unusually nice weather. We all thought Canberra and Hobart would be a weather challenge for sure, but the Saturday and Sunday gave quite perfect weather.

Unusually for Oz Fest we have already have an organising team. Hopefully they are still on board for 2021. Often someone only volunteers January or February. Often they volunteer military style- cohered.. ozflygirl747 has again volunteered to be CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer) after being CEO for DRW, ASP & OOL. storyteller will look after food & beverage and QF WP the tours. Having 3 locals organising will make Oz Fest 17 one of the best.

A common FT access account for the ad-hoc organising committee titled “Oz Fest (Oz Fest Organisers)” was approved by the Flyertalk Community Director, and the early informational posts here in this thread will show as that account, so they can be edited at will by those involved.

Our ad-hoc Committee will be tracking attendees, and hotels, and flights, and activity sign ups etc in these early posts. These are incredibly time consuming to keep updated, and all attendees owe them a huge vote of thanks. Hopefully we can once again call on the falconea’s to be name tag/table tag supremos, and we are well on our way!
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Oz Fest

Attendees

Oz Fest 17 takes place in Brisbane. QLD Australia on USA Memorial Day weekend from Friday evening 28th May to Sunday 30th May 2021

Please PM Oz Fest any error's & omissions or email:- ozfest at mail.com (NOT gmail)

Platinum - Confirmed (in order of confirming will attend including PM & emails)

1. ozflygirl747 BNE
2. storyteller BNE
3. JohnSydney2000 SYD
4. Bundy Bear BNE
5. rabau BNE
6. fifa OOL
7. Mr fifa OOL
8. kpc SYD
9. kpc_gf SYD
10. Itsalongwaydown SXE
11. Sue Oz SXE
12. alief SYD
13. kangarooflyer88 SYD
14. anat0l BNE
15. QF WP BNE
16. Mrs QF WP BNE
17. QF WP mini # 1 BNE
18. QF WP mini # 2 BNE
19. MrsBurrill, Burrill mini #1 & Burrill mini #2 BNE
20. JohnK BNE / SYD

Some have posted in the 2020 thread. Hotel and/or flight taken as Plat for 2021
However is doubtful-uncertain if AU will be open to international travel in May 2021

Gold Probable- Maybe


Silver - Interested


Bronze - can't make it

1. Antonio8069 Canada
2. Antonio8069_+1 Canada
3. rxgeek CMH
4. rxgeek_+1 CMH
5. tom911 SFO
6. Fredd SEA
7. Mrs Fredd SEA
8. Austin787 AUS
9. kirkwoodj IAH
10. restlessinRNO RNO
11. restlessinRNO_+1 RNO
12. Governator PHL
13. sbiddle WLG
14. tuapekastar MEL
15. Kiwi Flyer WLG
16. lowjhg SIN
17. serfty MEL
18. Perthite PER
19. JessicaTam MEL
20. doug_wescott MEL
21. wtcmor BNE
22. Thai-Kiwi PPQ
23. Viridianne SYD
24. falconea MEL
25. Mr falconea MEL

Note
penegal’s real status for all FT & AFF do’s:- Copper - I won't know until the last minute as work may get in the way or I may have to fly to SIN or somewhere else for one reason or another or I just can't make up my mind. He will show up some time!
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Oz Fest

Activities & Who is doing what:
How is doing what Google doc link
Click on activities at the bottom (does not work like it used to in past years)

From post 100 and post 112

Friday 28/05/2021
OzFest 2021 kicks off at 6:15pm with drinks & dinner at River Bar and Kitchen, Riparian Plaza, 71 Eagle St, Promenade level
Link---> River Bar & resturant
* We have a table booked for a 3 hours block.
** Orders placed at the bar, so it's easy for a group like ours.

Saturday 29/05/2021
A great way to enjoy The River City.
We'll spend the day riding the River Cats & ferries.

Let's meet at New Farm Park at the Rotunda around 1100. Naturally if people want to get there earlier that's fine too. The closest City Cat ferry stop is New Farm Park ferry terminal and right next door is the End of the Road Cafe (open 0700-1530 on Sat) where you can grab a coffee and a bite to eat to bring with you before meeting up at the Rotunda in New Farm Park. City Cat ferries operate even 15 minutes.
Link-->New Farm Park

It's probably a good idea to bring a picnic rug or blanket to sit on as the park is popular on weekends so we can't rely on using the seating that's there. A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses would also be a good idea. Ferry transport or even buses are ideal for getting there as weekend parking in New Farm can be a PITA. We can then jump back on the City Cat departing at 1342 to cross the river to Bulimba ferry terminal for our next venue.

Links

• Brisbane CityCat Ferry
• Brisbane Ferries
• Free CityHopper ferry (May be out of date)

* You will need a TransLink card for the Cats / Ferries. Available at many retail venues plus BNE at the train station.
Check out TransLink site for retailers near your hotel, plus how the system works.
Links---->

• Translink
• Translink fares and zones]
• Translink go card
• User guide download

Saturday Lunch
Il Molo Italian Kitchen & Bar, 1B Oxford St Bulimba QLD 4171. The City Cat will arrive at Bulimba ferry terminal at 1353 in time for our 1400 reservation. For groups it's a fixed price AUD45.00 banquet menu and they allow bill splitting for both food and alcohol. The restaurant has a 1.5 hour window for lunch so we'd be finishing up there at 1530. Refer post 130

People may choose to wander up Oxford Street and back to have a browse in the gift shops before walking back to the ferry terminal to catch the City Cat to Northshore ferry terminal and our evening destination of Eat Street Markets. City Cat ferries operate every 15 mins eg on Sat 29 May they depart Bulimba at 1538, 1553, 1608, 1623 etc arriving at the Northshore Hamilton ferry terminal 18 minutes later.
Link = Il Molo Italian Kitchen & Bar

Saturday Dinner
Continue on the River after lunch, arrive by river at Eat Street for drinks & dinner. Sunset is at 5:00pm.(221D Macarthur Ave, Hamilton QLD 4007)
Link--->Eat Street Northshore

We have secured a booking from 5:00pm - 8:00 pm for a quaint converted old shipping container, plus there are other tables just outside the container if we exceed the COVID safe number inside. We are booked for the Morton Bay container on the River Deck (red area) near Asia Street. The BeerAsia bar (container 44) is tagged in the map image.


There are dozens of styles of food available from individual Vendors on the site.
For those driving there is heaps of free parking. Admission for all is $5
The cost to Storyteller for the container for 3 hours is $180. We'll divide this by the number who attend?

Ferry / Cat back to the City at the end.

Link--->Saturday Google map
Would not show route by public transport

Sunday 30/05/2021
A morning / day by the Bay.

Catch the bus / train / drive / taxi / Uber to enjoy the morning Markets at Redcliffe on The Esplanade close to the Redcliffe Jetty from as early as you want.
Link----> Redcliff markets
Views of Moreton Island and the Bay.
Wander out onto the Jetty.
Check out the BeeGees walk between Sutton St and The Esplanade.

Sunday Lunch
Moreton Bay Boat Club overlooking Scarborough Boat Harbour and the Glasshouse Mountains MBBC Bird of Paradise Esplanade Scarborough
We have a table / tables booked on the deck at MBBC from 12:30pm.
Link--->Moreton Bay Boat Club

* Again, order drinks and food at the bar / restaurant.
** Locals, don't forget to brink an esky so you can buy some fresh seafood and ice to take home from Morgan's just around the corner

*** Folk who have checked out of their hotels in the City and plan to head to the airport after the morning or after lunch can perhaps pop their bags into assorted cars of locals who will be attending.
BNE is around a 35-40 minutes easy run from MBBC ***

Link--->Sunday Google map

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Post 95 (13 May 2021)

==============
Over time this post will be have more information and links to other posts in this thread.

In late February – March we start to think about activities and talk to suppliers, vendors and restaurants, as by that time we have rough guide of attendee numbers. Before that time very little detailed planning happens. We set up a web based reservation system to book and pay for activities in late March-April. Due to low numbers and no pre paid activities this year please post your attendance in the thread

Some activities require pre payment and others a commitment to attend. Some people attend all activities and others a few or maybe only the main Saturday night dinner. All are welcome albeit all or 1 activity. On the Friday some of the early attendees meet for self arranged lunch/what ever.

People can start to arrive from Wednesday and some do not leave until the following Tuesday/Wednesday. Some people leave Oz Fest on the Sunday.

The Oz Fest team base costs on people attending activities based on known flights and the history of similar events attended. Due to commitments the Oz Fest team has made/will make to restaurants, suppliers and/or vendors no refunds are possible, unless another person takes your place. We often have to pay upfront for activities and/or restaurants. The cost includes the fees (~6%) Oz Fest pay to the reservation web site.

Generally Oz Fest has

• Friday evening drinks-dinner
• Saturday activity or activities. Sometimes a bus day trip
• Saturday evening Oz Fest dinner. Tends to get 100% participation
• ]Sunday activity or activities
• Sunday evening casual dinner. Often self organised with no pre booking

Oz Fest

Hotels

At the date of this post, Australia is closed to international visitors, with no published date when the boarder will reopen. The Australian border will be tightly controlled while Covid-19 is a risk. People booking hotels are best to ensure they are fully refundable, or minimal cash penalty for cancellation. Check the reservation t&c’s.

In May 2021 some hotels may still be in the AU/QLD Government 14 day Covid-19 isolation program.

***
Google doc link of where people are staying----> link
****

There are many hotels to suit all budgets.
There are Accor, Hilton, and Marriott(Starwood) chain property's in Brisbane

Having one central hotel location that most folks use, is a very large plus.

• Choice Hotels-----> Link
• Accor Hotels Brisbane----> link
• IHG Hotels Brisbane----> link
• Marriott(Starwood) Hotels Brisbane ----> link
• FT thread --> Marriott Bonvoy Hotels in Brisbane [Master Thread]

Brisbane Marriott Hotel, 515 Queen Street, Brisbane web site
FT thread--> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marr...australia.html (Very old thread - last post Apr 2018)

Comfort Inn Spring Hill Terraces, 260 Water Street, Spring Hill web site

• kangarooflyer88 (assumed staying at this hotel)

Courtyard by Marriott. 218 Vulture St, South Bank Brisbane web site
Opened ~23 Feb 2021 after a rebrand from Swiss-Bellhotel
FT thread--> Courtyard by Marriott Brisbane South Bank [Master Thread]

Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane, 99 Mary Street, Brisbane web site
FT thread--> Four Points Brisbane, Australia, opened March 2014 (last post Apr 2017)

Hilton, 190 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane web site
FT thread--> Hilton Brisbane {AUS}

• kpc & kpc_gf
• Itsalongwaydown & Sue Oz
• JohnSydney2000
• fifa & Mr fifa

Holiday Inn Express, Brisbane Central, 168 Wharf St, Brisbane web site
FT thread--> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inte...sbane-ihg.html

Hotel X, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane web site 1 and web site 2
FT thread-->https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inte...ihg-brand.html (Maybe not yet open or branded. Indigo?)

Hyatt Regency, 72 Queen St Brisbane web site [Opened 01 Feb 2021]
FT thread--> Hyatt Regency Brisbane REVIEW - MASTER THREAD

Ibis budget Windsor Brisbane,159 Lutwyche Road, Brisbane web site

Sofitel Brisbane Central, 249 Turbot Street Brisbane web site

Westin, 111 Mary Street, Brisbane web site
FT thread--> Westin Brisbane [Master Thread]

W Hotel, 81 North Quay, Brisbane Brisbane web site
FT thread--> W Brisbane, Australia [Master Thread] (last post Dec 2018)

Oz Fest

Flights

Flights are listed in the online google doc -->link


We use flight information to predict activity participation. Helps a lot with planning. If people book a flight that is a good guide will really attend. We always get late cancellations.

Additional information associated with flights

• Airport info SYDNEY (SYD) - amenities, transfers, transport Click to open the wiki
• Airport info MELBOURNE (MEL) - amenities, transfers, transport Click to open the wiki
• Airport info BRISBANE (BNE) - amenities, transfers, transport Needs a wiki & updating
• Australia immigration (incl ETA visa) & customs
• Smartgate at Australia & NZ immigration Click to open the wiki
• Free Australian ETA Visa application* - Processing Australian ETAs for free * to FT members (and up to 3 more friends & family) who have more than 80 posts, AND have at least been members for more than 12 months! Please read post 1. Thanks to Guy Betsy for his service to the FT community. Australia currently closed to international visitors.
• Au Government web site direct link --> Australian Electronic Travel Authority AUD$20. For passports holders from Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Hong Kong (SAR PRC), Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and United States. Beware of non government 3rd party look-a-like scam web sites that charge more, often found with a browser web search. Australia currently closed to international visitors.

At the date of this post, Australia is closed to most international visitors, with no published date as to when the boarder will reopen. NZ citizens and residents can enter NSW, ACT, SA & NT without a 14 day quarantine.

AU Government--- > COVID-19 and the border

The Australian border will be tightly controlled while Covid-19 is a risk. There is a possibility and/or probability that Australia will not be open to people from all or some countries in May 2021. And that Queensland may not be open to some or all interstate visitors. People booking flights are best to ensure they are fully refundable, or minimal cash penalty for cancellation, by the passenger. Check the ticket t&c’s

Currently about 20 international airlines are flying into Australia. UA, DL and AA are flying USA<--->AU. Qatar QR, Emirates EK, Cathay Pacific CX and other airlines are flying Asia/ME<--->AU. Qantas QF have chosen not to fly scheduled international routes, other than AU<---> NZ.

Qantas (for Oneworld, AA & AS award/cash frequent flyers) have sent all their A380 and most B787’s wide body aircraft to the Mojave desert for storage/other places and are not expecting any international scheduled flights until mid 2021, other than AU<----> NZ.

03 Dec 2020 (news.com.au)--->Qantas: International travel to be at a ‘standstill’ until July 2021

30 Oct 2020 (Executive Traveller AU) Link---->Qantas closes bookings on US, UK flights to Oct 2021
07 Oct 2020 (news.com.au) ---> Grim forecast about when you can travel overseas
02 Oct 2020 (Executive Traveller AU) Link---->Qantas begins cancelling international flights until March 2021

08 Sept 2020 (Executive Traveller AU) Link----> American Airlines brings forward Sydney-Los Angeles flights
20 Aug 2020 (Executive Traveller AU) Link----> Qantas doesn't see USA flights resuming until the end of 2021
07 Aug 2020 (Executive Traveller AU) Link----> Qantas to send most of its Boeing 787s to the desert for storage

Oz Fest

About Bribane, QLD Australia (click on the blue or underlined links)

Will be updated from time to time.

Brisbane & Info FT threads
To be updated over time
__________________________________

Phones

• Prepaid SIM (Data or Voice) - Australia
• Sim Card in Australia
• Shops at SYD airport for SIM (last post Feb 2016)

__________________________________

Other
The correct map of the world, with Australia where it really is (at the top)
Australia compared to the USA
Australia vs USA map
Australia vs Europe map

Oz Fest

History Of Oz Fests click here for the map
SYD-SYD-BNE-MEL-HBA-CNS-ADL-DRW-CBR-PER-ASP-AYQ-KKE-OOL-NTL-MCY-SYD-BNE

.

• Oz Fest 01: 2004 22 attended in Sydney [how it all started The very first]
  
• Oz Fest 02: 2005 58 attended in Sydney
  
• Oz Fest 03: 2006 28 attended in Brisbane
  
• Oz Fest 04: 2007 47 attended in Melbourne
  
• Oz Fest 05: 2008 38 attended in Hobart
  
• Oz Fest 06: 2009 59 attended in Cairns
  
• Oz Fest 07: 2010 71 attended in Adelaide
  
• Oz Fest 08: 2011 44 attended in Darwin
  
• Oz Fest 09: 2012 51 attended in Canberra
  
• Oz Fest 10: 2013 59 attended in Perth
  
• Oz Fest 11: 2014 37 attended in Alice Springs-Ayers Rock
  
• Oz Fest 12: 2015 41 attended in Bay of Islands, New Zealand
  
• Oz Fest 13: 2016 44 attended in the Gold Coast
  
• Oz Fest 14: 2017 42 attended in Newcastle
  
• Oz Fest 15: 2018 40 attended in Noosa
  
• Oz Fest 16: 2019 49 attended in Sydney
  
• Oz Fest 17: 2020 00 attended in Brisbane(postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic)
  
• Oz Fest 17: 2021 20 attended in Brisbane

===========

Continuous attendance, without missing an Oz Fest.
Some people have attended more, but have missed 1 or more Oz Fest’s
15 - restlessinRNO Oz Fest 02 SYD to Oz Fest 16 SYD (inclusive)
14 - Itsalongwaydown Oz Fest 03 BNE to Oz Fest 16 SYD (inclusive)
14 - Sue Oz Oz Fest 03 BNE to Oz Fest 16 SYD (inclusive)
13 - Serfty Oz Fest 02 SYD to Oz Fest 14 NTL (inclusive)
13 - Fredd Oz Fest 04 MEL to Oz Fest 16 SYD (inclusive)
13 - Mrs Fredd Oz Fest 04 MEL to Oz Fest 16 SYD (inclusive)
11 - Ozstamps Oz Fest 01 SYD to Oz Fest 11 ASP (inclusive)
11 - JohnSydney2000 Oz Fest 06 CNS to Oz Fest 16 SYD (inclusive)
11 - Chchkiwi Oz Fest 06 CNS to Oz Fest 16 SYD (inclusive)

266 individual FTer's have attended Oz Fest 1 to Oz Fest 16 inclusive at an average of 2.77 per person. 37 people have attended 5 or more Oz Fest’s. Repeat attendee’s at Oz Fest’s are about 80% with 20% newbie’s.

As up to and including Oz Fest 16
16 FTer for attending all 16 previous Oz Fests
no one

15 FTer for attending 15 previous Oz Fests
QF WP
restlessinRNO

14 FTer for attending 14 previous Oz Fests
Itsalongwaydown
Sue Oz
JohnSydney2000
Serfty

13 FTer's for attending 13 previous Oz Fests
kpc
Fredd
Mrs Fredd
JohnK

12 FTer's for attending 12 previous Oz Fests
Bundy Bear
upup&away

11 FTer's for attending 11 previous Oz Fests
Mrs QF WP
ozstamps
chchkiwi

10 FTer's for attending 10 previous Oz Fests
jswong
tom911
spaceman

9 FTer's for attending 9 previous Oz Fests
fifa
kpc_gf
gvdIAD
MargoOz
To Market to Market
Perthite

8 FTer's for attending 8 previous Oz Fests
Mr fifa
falconea
Mr falconea
Frantic
Monitor

Oz Fest

Some posts in the Oz Fest 17 BNE 2020 thread about Oz Fest 17 BNE 2021


Post 144 06 August 2020
Post 146 07 August 2020
Post 147 08 August 2020
Post 148 08 August 2020
Post 153 07 September 2020
Post 154 11 September 2020
Post 162 07 October 2020

Oz Fest

Spare post for later

JohnSydney2000

Please add me as a confirmed attendee again. Thanks kindly. John.

Bundy Bear

Hopefully 2021 works out better than 2020.
Add me as attending Ozfest in Brisbane for 2021.

Hopefully there is a vaccine available for 2021 so that our overseas friends can visit Australia.

fifa

Please add me and Mr Fifa!
We'll be counting down the days...

kpc

We will be there unless the Qld border is closed(again) to NSW residents.

PS: have a made a refundable booking on the Fri and Sat night at the Hilton Room prices are steep atm

kirkwoodj

Put me down as Silver, best we can do right now!

falconea

We will be there, COVID-19 willing.

Perhaps we need a new status for this one - call us Cloudy Crystal.

Audrey